FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2006

Health Department reminds residents

to take precautions to avoid tick bites

With the warm weather around the corner, the Health Department is reminding everyone to take precautions against Lyme Disease and other tickborne diseases by avoiding tick bites.

"Many Westchester residents are familiar with tickborne diseases and their prevention,” stated Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman. “However, each spring we call attention to the prevention of tickborne diseases since most cases of tickborne disease occur in the spring and summer months,” he continued.

The Health Department is distributing tickborne disease educational material throughout the community and makes educational presentations to school children and community organizations. In addition, the Health Department encourages residents to visit the Health Department website, www.westchestergov.com/health to learn the latest information about tickborne diseases.

The most common tickborne disease, Lyme disease, is a potentially serious disease caused by a bacterium called a spirochete. The spirochete is passed on to people and domestic animals through the bite of an infected deer tick. The most common symptom is an expanding red rash, typically a bull's-eye rash, often at the site of the tick bite. The rash usually appears three to 30 days after the bite and may last for several weeks. Other symptoms may include fever, sore throat, fatigue, sleeping difficulties, joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and dizziness.

Two other tickborne diseases, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, also can be spread through the bite of an infected deer tick and are seen occasionally in our area. Symptoms of the two diseases can include fever, chills and muscle aches. Infection with any or all of the three diseases can occur in the same person at the same time.

Ticks are most commonly found in grassy or wooded areas. They do not jump or fly, but instead stay low to the ground and grab onto animals and humans that brush up against them. Ticks are very small and sometimes difficult to see, ranging from the size of a poppy seed to an apple seed. Avoiding tick bites is the best defense against tickborne diseases.

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TICKBORNE DISEASE

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To protect yourself from being bitten, always be sure to:

· Make it a habit of doing tick checks at least daily each and every time you and your family return home from enjoying outdoor activities. Inspect the entire body and remove ticks promptly. Ticks usually must be attached and feed for at least 36 hours before transmitting Lyme disease, so tick

checks and removal at least daily are the most effective means of preventing tickborne diseases.

· Avoid tick-infested areas (wooded or grassy areas), especially in May, June and July when nymphal deer ticks are most active.

· Wear light-colored, tightly-woven clothes to spot ticks more easily. Tuck your pants into socks and shirt into pants.

· Use insect repellents with no more than 30% DEET, but use them sparingly and with care. Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors. Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for periods of approximately two hours. A concentration of 24% has been shown to provide an average of five hours of protection. DEET should not be applied more than once a day. Products containing DEET are not recommended for use on children under 2 months of age. Carefully read and follow directions on the container and wash treated skin when tick exposure has ended.

· Use landscaping measures around your home or property to make it less attractive for deer and ticks, such as keeping your grass cut short, removing leaf litter and debris which can act as a moist environment or ticks, and planting shrubs and flowers deer do not like. Consult your local nursery for additional tips.

For the second year, Westchester joins thirteen other New York counties in the “Be Tick Free” campaign and in declaring May to be Tickborne Disease Awareness Month. The “Be Tick Free” campaign was developed through a cooperative effort by state and local health representatives in counties where Lyme disease is prevalent.

For further information on tickborne diseases and their prevention, call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or the County's Tickborne disease Information Line at (914) 813-LYME, or visit the Department’s website at www.westchestergov.com/health.

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